US passport timelines - Baby on the way

[humbled]

Hi All,

My wife and I are having a baby and she is due in the next 2 months. Our current visas expire in April 2021 and we are worried about getting the paperwork ready for the child in order for us to travel back to India. This is because of the recent delays in getting US passports. We are both Indian citizens.

Questions

• Has anyone received a US passport for their infant recently ? If yes, how long did it take to process ?
• Since we may not have enough valid status on our US visas when the baby is born, we may be ineligible to apply for OCI card. Hence to apply for Indian visa, how long would it take ? And whats the typical validity ?

Appreciate the help in advance !

[R78]

Passport Agencies are churning put passports and clearing the backlog currently. The situation now is much better than it was in April-June.
As of now, there is a 930,000 backlog and they are issuing approx 100-150K passports per week. I would use the following timelines
Nov 01, 2020 - Baby is born. Within a week , you can apply for the US passport.
Dec 31, 2020 - Assuming current timelines, your baby should get the passport. If Expedited processing is available (highly likely by then), you can get the passport back in 3 weeks
***Keep all documents ready to apply for OCI as soon as you apply for the passport to save time***
Jan 03, 2021 - Apply for OCI. Assuming no delays on your end.
March 31 - OCI in hand

[R78]

forgot to add: If expedited processing for passport becomes available, you will get the passport in hand within 2-3 weeks (Dec 01), then apply for OCI right away and get it in hand by Feb 01,2021

[humbled]

Thank you very much for the guidance ! Really appreciate it.

So just as an additional backup, in case if there are delays, we can still apply for visa instead of OCI right ? Any knowledge on how long the Indian visa process takes currently ?

[R78]

Renunciation and Sticker visas are only via the consulate.
So for both these, it would take 2-4 weeks max turnaround.

[R78]

E-Visas are a fully online process and approvals are issued within 3 days.
Very easy to file and obtain.
Your passport stays with you at all times
Once approved, you just print the letter and take it with you to India.
Cost for a 5yr E-Visa is $80
Each stay upto 6 months (for US citizens)

[cramn]

I don't think India is issuing visas right now to foreigners. Only OCI seems to be the way.

[iuddd]

Our US passports (new/first time, applied mid June 2020) came within 4-5 weeks, even though they told it may take 3 months or more when applying. Spouse's came in 4 weeks exactly, and mine took additional week as I got an email (and also via USPS) that they couldn't verify my SSN, so had to email a signed scanned form (just mentioned correct SSN) and therefore an additional week delay (5 weeks total). There was no expedite option available since March.

However, our kid's (minor) US passport renewal is under 'process' from last 4 weeks, and yet to see any updates, so assuming max turnaround of total 8 weeks under current conditions.

All the best!

[humbled]

Thank you very much for answering my questions ! really appreciate it